Micaela Gonzalez Gulino, a 25 year-old classical pianist from Argentina, Paraguay, will take to the stage at 5 p.m. on Oct. 1 in Emporia State’s Heath Recital Hall.
The concert has free admission for all, according to the Facebook event page hosted by Kansas Paraguay Partners, ‘Micaela’s Piano Recital.’
“I won the National Piano Competition held in March of this past year,” Gulino said. “The prize of the competition was to travel to Kansas and learn and practice for four weeks with Dr. (Martin) Cuellar.”
Martin Cuellar, professor of music, was one of the judges on the board to select the winner of the classical piano competition.
“It is a distinction to be given the opportunity,” Cuellar said. “It is a national competition and we get to host Micaela (Gulino). We get to attract that kind of talent.”
Gulino has the opportunity to perform music in Paraguay once a year. However, this is her first time visiting Kansas. Gulino studies music in Buenos Aires.
“It is intensive and I get to learn a lot from her about the teachers there, the history of the development of piano, and their composers,” Cuellar said. “She brings ideas from teachers there…As a young pianist emerging into her career path, it’s nice to throw ideas around, she’s a part of our team now. It’s nice to see things begin to bloom.”
Gulino started playing the piano at the age of nine. She did not begin taking it seriously until age 18. Gulino is a part of the Paraguay-Kansas exchange.
“This program has been an amazing thing,” Cuellar said.